CHAPTER TWENTY #3
"You don't clean up too badly yourself, little siren,” I tell her. “Nice dress."
“It’s Dolce and Gabbana,” she informs me. “Super expensive. I was a little scared when I put it on because I was worried it would rip.”
I snort. For a moment, this feels normal. Impossibly so. It feels like we're back in my house. Like we never left.
But then I remember she ripped my heart out and handed it to her father.
And reality returns.
I tighten my grip on her waist.
"Enjoying your new position as the Navarro princess?” I ask. “You should have just told me you wanted all this. Pretty dresses, fancy parties, wealth. I could have offered you far more than Ignacio ever could.”
Her entire body stills, “That’s not what this is about, Rafaelle.”
“Then tell me,” I prompt. “Why did you do it? Why did you leave at the warehouse?”
Her eyes are twin pools of pain. It tells me everything I need to know. What I suspected and what Lindsay confirmed.
She's hiding something.
"Liliana."
She looks away. I immediately hate it. I want her eyes on me. I want to see every emotion that passes through them. I need to know why she did it.
Because I've spent too many nights wondering what happened. Too many nights replaying that warehouse over and over in my head. Watching her choose him. Watching her leave.
I never should have let her.
"Look at me."
She doesn't.
The music ends. Soft applause erupts around us as the other couples start to disperse.
I barely hear it. Without another word, I take her hand in mine and start pulling her in the direction of the ballroom doors. She doesn't fight me. We move through the crowd. Past the guests, past the guards, past all the noise until we’re alone.
The hallway is empty. Quiet.
I release her hand and turn toward her. The moment I do, she takes a step backward. Then another. Until her back meets the wall.
My pulse kicks. The sight of her against the wall feels all too familiar.
Despite, everything, I still want her. More than I need to breath.
I lean in placing one hand beside her head. Then the other, trapping her between my arms.
Her breath catches.
"Tell me the truth, Liliana.”
Her throat moves.
"Rafaelle, I—"
“Or would you rather tell me that you didn’t care. That all that time we spent together was nothing to you. Are you going to stand there and tell me that I meant nothing?”
Her eyes burn as they look into mine. “I can’t do that.”
“Exactly. Because we both know it would be a fucking lie,” I grit out.
Her eyes close briefly. Pain flashes across her face.
"So why?"
Nothing.
I step even closer, invading more of her space.
"Why, Liliana?" I repeat.
"You wouldn't understand."
My jaw clenches. "Try me."
She shakes her head.
Frustration surges through me. I watch the war raging in her eyes. Watch her struggle with the truth she’s holding back from me.
“You don’t trust me?” I ask, my voice low and hurt.
Whatever she's hiding must be something big. She looks miserable. Her eyes fill up with tears.
“I do trust you,” she whispers. “I just don’t know how you’ll react.”
My throat is tight, “It’ll be fine, little siren.”
"You'll hate me."
I almost laugh. The idea of that is absurd.
The woman clearly has no idea what she's done to me.
"You betrayed me,” I start.
She winces.
"You humiliated me in front of my brothers."
Another flinch.
"My men."
My breath coasts against her lips. I want to capture them in mine but that would be inefficient in this moment when I’m trying to get her to open up to me.
"You left me standing in a warehouse looking like a complete fucking idiot and despite. I could barely summon any anger toward you. It made me miserable. But I still wanted you. I missed you so fucking much, little siren."
Her breath catches. I shake my head.
Almost disgusted with myself.
"I could never hate you, Liliana."
The words settle between us. Raw, honest.
I see exact moment her walls crack. The exact moment she decides to tell me. My pulse pounds.
She opens her lips to speak, and then we’re fucking interrupted.
"Mr. Vitale."
A growl escapes my throat. A guard stands at the end of the hallway. Looking profoundly uncomfortable.
"Miss Navarro's father is looking for her."
I close my eyes, trying to control the way anger lashes through me.
Of course he fucking is. I was wondering why he even let me disappear with her in the first place.
Thanks to the interruption, the moment shatters instantly.
Liliana pops out from beneath my arms, escaping me. I watch her retreat behind her walls again.
I was so fucking close to breaking her. Several long seconds pass before she speaks.
“I’m sorry I caused you so much pain, Rafaelle.”
Finally, she turns away. I catch her wrist before she can leave.
Her eyes meet mine.
"I'll find out the truth."
The promise comes out rough. Whatever she's hiding, I know it's connected to me. I can feel it.
“And when I do, you’ll be mine again. Understand?” I prompt.
The smile she offers me is sad, “Don’t hold your breath, Raf.”
She leaves and I’m left standing there, knowing I have no intention of giving up on us.